LETTER: Time to step in and help VA centers

Sunday

May 18, 2014 at 5:01 PMMay 18, 2014 at 5:07 PM

The VA has been caught with its pants down. VA medical centers all across the country are under investigation, a scandal that should not have happened. Over 40 veterans died while waiting up to 21 months to be seen by specialist doctors for various life threatening illnesses at the VAMC in Phoenix, Arizona. More deaths are also reported at other VAMCs nationwide. This is blatant mismanagement, if not criminal conduct, under the supposedly watchful eye of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.

The VA has been caught with its pants down. VA medical centers all across the country are under investigation, a scandal that should not have happened. Over 40 veterans died while waiting up to 21 months to be seen by specialist doctors for various life threatening illnesses at the VAMC in Phoenix, Arizona. More deaths are also reported at other VAMCs nationwide. This is blatant mismanagement, if not criminal conduct, under the supposedly watchful eye of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.

Military veterans organization are calling for the secretary to be fired and prosecuted for mismanagement and answer for these untimely deaths. Likewise, Undersecretary of Health Dr. Robert Petzel and Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey should resign or be immediately fired. The inspector general of the United States has been directed to conduct an investigation into the allegations’ brought upon the VA.

MSgt Paul E. Travis, USAF (retired), a veterans advocate, said, “It’s time that all veterans unite to stop the mismanagement atrocity known as Veterans Affairs from further harming veterans.” Mr. Travis is well know among the veteran population.

John Paul Rossie, executive director of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association has spoken out to Congress to conduct a congressional investigation, citing the VA scandal.

Veterans are treated like a piece of meat. Often they are handed pills, narcotics for pain and antidepressants to calm them down and shoved out the door. Medically, this sort of action solves nothing. Is this proper care for our veterans at VA hospitals? I think not.

The American people should demand our Congress step in and stop the atrocities that take place at VA medical centers. Demand our veterans be properly cared for. They gave their all for our country. We now need to give our all to them.